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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: stem · suit · lie · clip · leaves · charge · safe · wax

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. clip — for paper
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. suit — in cards
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. wax — to grow
  8. lie — to recline
  9. suit — clothes
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. clip — a video
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. clip — to cut
  15. suit — to fit
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. charge — a price
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stem — to come from
  23. charge — in control
  24. stem — a stem cell

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com